102 MT urea seized while being smuggled out

Four persons were arrested and handed over to Patenga police in this connection.

They are Asish Kumar Nandi of West Betagi of Patiya; Bubul Bhattachariya of Rangamatia, Fatikchhari; Abdul Hamid of Kolagaon of Patia and Md. Mohiuddin of Char Pathorghata of Patia.

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The fertilisers were seized from MV Tibat after Coastguard officials detected forgery in documents.

"The smugglers came for clearance from Coastguard on August 2. We received secret information that the documents they submitted were fake and that the fertilisers were being smuggled out of the country, " Coastguard Zonal Commander Lt Commander ATM Ashraf told newsmen at the Coastguard office here.

He said the fertilisers were lifted in the names of three dealers - Shahid Enterprise in Debhata in Satkhira, Suphala Traders in Kustia and Messers Chowdhury in Jessore.

After getting the tip-off, Coastguard contacted Deputy Commissioners of the districts and came to know that the smugglers were using the names of dealers to smuggle the fertilisers.

The DC's office in Shatkhira informed Coastguard that Shaheed Enterprise had no fertiliser business.

Information collected from Kushtia and Jessor also confirmed that the documents were fake.

The documents the smugglers had produced also bore fake signature of an Assistant Commissioner of Chittagong DC's Office, sources said.